Page 2954 - Week 09 - Thursday, 18 August 2005

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .


(4) 47% of the total staff salary is used for part time staff and 55% of the clinical staff salary budget is for part time staff.

(5) A full time staff member works 36.45 hours per week. The time is used to provide direct client contact, meetings, report writing, development of programs, administrative tasks and contributions to the development of a single therapy service, by involvement on committees, liaison with government and non government, provision of inservice and marketing of the service.

(6) See answer to question (1).

(7) Information needs to be sourced from the universities.

(8) Responses varies from advertisement to advertisement. Response also fluctuates with the time of the year, graduation times from universities. Positions are advertised locally, nationally and with the professional associations both in the press and Internet.

(9) Length of stay varies with senior staff staying for long periods and new graduates one - two years. The length of stay varies with the individual’s circumstances.

(10) See answer to question (1).

(11) Periodic information on turnover of staff is used to inform workforce planning and to improve recruitment and retention.

(12) Vacancy rates are an ongoing issue. Therapy ACT has reduced the rates from 30% in 2003-04 to 10-15% in 2004-05. There is a national shortage of allied health professionals and all areas are experiencing staff shortages.

Health—therapy fees
(Question No 402)

Mrs Burke asked the Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, upon notice, on 22 June 2005:

(1) In relation to therapy services in the ACT, what is the fee recommended for professionals in private practice by the professional associations of each of the therapy disciplines;

(2) What is the range of therapy cost in private practice in the ACT for each therapy type;

(3) What barriers to contracting therapy services has the Government identified;

(4) Is the Government attempting to remove any of these barriers; if not, why not.

Mr Hargreaves: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) & (2)

Fee structure and costs are not available from Therapy ACT. Information may be available from the professional associations or contacting the private practitioners directly.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .